Parasitology Commons^™

Flea News 96 (November 2025), R. L. Bossard

Flea News

Flea News is a twice-yearly newsletter about fleas (Siphonaptera). Before including in publications any of the citations given here, please review for accuracy and correct formatting. Many of our sources are abstracting journals and current literature sources, and editors have not necessarily checked citations.

Announcements

Obituary: Lane Douglas Foil (June 16, 1949 - June 22, 2025)

Siphonaptera Literature (2025): Taxonomy, Conservation, Hosts and Distributions, Physiology and Morphology, Evolution, Ecology, Pathology and Control, Microbial Symbionts

A Diverse Flea (Siphonaptera) Assemblage From The Small Mammals Of Central New Mexico, Dianne E. Peterson, Jonathan L. Dunnum, Schuyler W. Liphart, Karen A. Boegler, Ralph P. Eckerlin, Eric P. Hoberg, Martha O. Perez-Arriaga, Katrina Derieg, David Garnand, Mariel L. Campbell, Joseph A. Cook

MANTER: Journal of Parasite Biodiversity

The geographical ranges of many mammals and their associated parasites are dynamic. Comprehensive documentation of these communities over time provides a foundation for interpreting how changing environmental conditions, driven by accelerating climate change, other anthropogenic disturbances, and natural events, may influence host-parasite interactions. Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) are obligate, hematophagous parasites of birds and mammals with medical interest because of their role in transmitting pathogens. From 2016 to 2019, we sampled the small mammal and associated flea communities in El Malpais National Conservation Area (El Malpais) in Cibola County, New Mexico. Among 898 mammalian specimens, 925 fleas representing 29 species were …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Duox-Dependent Reactive Oxygen Species Production Against Bacterial Infection In The Gut Of Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides Felis)., Ryne W. Maness

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) are opportunistic blood feeders that parasitize a wide variety of mammals and birds. They also transmit bacterial pathogens that cause diseases in humans (e.g., murine typhus, flea-borne spotted fever, cat scratch disease, and plague). Because they acquire infectious pathogens while blood feeding, the flea gut is considered to be the initial site of infection. While immune responses have been well documented in other disease vectors, few studies have identified the immune mechanisms involved in defense of the flea gut. In other hematophagous insects, the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the immediate immune defense mechanism against …

Bolivian Ectoparasites: A Survey Of The Fleas Of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), Elisa Pucu De Araujo, Scott L. Gardner, Marcela Lareschi

Papers in Parasitology

We present the results of a multiyear survey of the fleas from ctenomyid rodents across many different habitats from throughout Bolivia. New species records for Bolivia include Tiamastus palpalis and Ectinorus (Panallius) galeanus. New records of fleas from Ctenomys in Bolivia include Gephyropsylla klagesi, Sphinctopsylla inca, and Tetrapsyllus tristis.

Bolivian Ectoparasites: A Survey Of The Fleas Of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), Elisa Pucu De Araujo, Marcela Lareschi, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

We present the results of a multiyear survey of the fleas from ctenomyid rodents across many different habitats from throughout Bolivia. New species records for Bolivia include Tiamastus palpalis and Ectinorus (Panallius) galeanus. New records of fleas from Ctenomys in Bolivia include Gephyropsylla klagesi, Sphinctopsylla inca, and Tetrapsyllus tristis.

Flea News 60 (July 2000), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Announcement: Printed copies of Flea News discontinuing

Obituary: Franciscus Gerardus Albertus Maria Smit (June 7, 1920-January 28, 2000)

Book review: Sifonapteros do Brasil, Pedro Marcois Linardi and Lindolpho Rocha Guimaraes. Sao Paulo, Museu de Zoologia USP/FAPESP, 2000.

Flea species

Literature

Miscellanea: As of January 2000 the name of the Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington was changed to Comparative Parasitology.

Arthropod And Helminth Parasites From The Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys Bursarius Bursarius From The Hosts' Northern Boundary Range In Minnesota, Monroe H. Bartel, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

As part of a continuing and more general study of the diversity of parasites from subterranean mammals in central North America, individuals of the Plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius, were collected from 7 localities in northwestern Minnesota from September 1991 through October 1996. Arthropods collected included the fleas, Opisocrostis bruneri (4 of 124, 3.20/0), Foxella ignota ignota (85 of 124, 68.50/0); the chewing louse, Geomydoecus geomydis geomydis from 98 of 124 (790/0), and larvae of the tick, Dermacentor variabilis (1 of 124, 0.8%). Nematodes found included Physaloptera limbata (2 of 118 gophers, 1.7%), Capillaria americana (4 of 118, …

Flea News 59 (December 1999), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Obituary: Li Kuei Chen (January 6, 1911-October 21, 1999)

Miscellanea

Book reviews: Eustorgio Méndez, Insectos y otros artrópodos de importancia médica y veterinaria; Mammals of the Eastern United States, 3rd edition. John O. Whitaker, Jr. and W. J. Hamilton, Jr., 1998; Walker's Mammals of the World: Volume I, 6th edition. Ronald M. Nowak, 1999

Siphonaptera literature

Flea News 58 (June 1999), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Obituary: Lindolpho Rocha Guimarães (January 24, 1908-November 7, 1998)

Miscellanea

Siphonaptera literature

Flea News 57 (January 1999), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Mailing list changes

Miscellanea: The following article concerning plague in prairie dogs in Texas is taken from the July-August issue of the Technical Information Bulletin of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board.

Siphonaptera literature

Flea News 56 (July 1998), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Miscellanea

Siphonaptera literature

Mailing list changes

Flea News 55 (January 1998), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Miscellanea

Flea species

Material request

Siphonaptera literature

Flea News 54 (June 1997), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Miscellanea

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) update

Nomenclatural tidbits

Siphonaptera literature

Flea News 53 (December 1996), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Robert E. Lewis to retitre from Iowa State University effective January 1, 1997

Book reviews

Obituaries: Robert S. Traub (October 26, 1916-December 21, 1996); Dorald Mervin Allred (July 11, 1923-June 20, 1996)

Miscellanea

Siphonaptera literature

Report: Use of an orally administered insect development inhibitor (Lufenuron) as a flea control agent in the California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi by Richard M. Davis

Flea News 52 (July 1996), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Editorial, Robert E. Lewis

Miscellanea

Announcement

Siphonaptera literature

New flea species

Flea News 51 (December 1995), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Obituaries:George MacKenzie Dunnet (April 19, 1928-September 11, 1995); William Livingston Jellison (January 28, 1906-November 7, 1995)

Miscellanea

Siphonaptera literatue

Flea News 50 (July 1995), Robert E. Lewis

Flea News

Obituary: Maria Suciu (January 9, 1932-September 24, 1994)

Miscellanea

Mailing list

Siphonaptera literature

Revision Of The Non-Combed Eyed Siphonaptera, Karl Jordan, Nathaniel Charles Rothschild

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Introduction (excerpt)

The importance of certain species of fleas in relation to the epidemiology of plague has been so amply demonstrated (see Journal of Hygiene, volumes VI 1906, p. 426, and VII 1907, p. 395) that an explanation appears scarcely necessary for our publishing a paper dealing with a revision of the non-pectinated eyed Siphonaptera. With the demonstration that fleas are capable of transmitting plague, their study at once ceased to be the mere hobby of a small group of entomological specialists. An accurate knowledge of fleas, both with regard to their structure and biology, is at present a …